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Texas Recruiting: 2013 "My Guys" Draft, Round 4

It's time for the fourth round of the inaugural "My Guys" Recruiting draft, brought to you by the BON recruiting team. Here's how the first three went down:

Round 1

  1. Whitewright QB Tyrone Swoopes (GoBR's pick)
  2. Fort Worth Arlington Heights OL/DL A'Shawn Robinson (BFLT's pick)
  3. Celina's OL/DL Jake Raulerson (GHG90's pick)

Round 2

  1. Sealy ATH Ricky Seals-Jones
  2. Dallas Kimball DT Justin Manning
  3. Dallas Jesuit WR Jake Oliver

Round 3

  1. Bastrop CB Antwuan Davis
  2. Groveland South Lake (FL) S Marcell Harris
  3. Kennedale LB Brett Wade

Check out the fourth round after the jump.

Star-divide

Round 4, Pick 1 -- GoBR

Weimar OT Ja'Braylin Thomas

Thomas is a bit of an anomaly in the 2013 class -- he's a talented offensive lineman who doesn't play on both sides of the ball. Oh yeah, and he's also a bit of an anomaly because he's 6-7 and 330 pounds as a junior, with a wingspan that measures over seven feet.

Admittedly, this is a bit of a stretch here since Kent Perkins is still on the board and Perkins could be one of the top players in the state regardless of position, but Thomas is the pick here because he's the prototypical left tackle prospect with his combination of size, length, and ability. Consider that Thomas played tight end last summer on the Weimar 7-on-7 squad and balls it up on the hardwood. That's an athletic pedigree that a lot of college coaches who went through Weimar last spring probably fell in love with.

It's hard to say right now why exactly the shine is off of Thomas a bit mere months after he surfaced on the radar and it's probably not a great reflection on his most current evaluations. Watching him on film, I'm a little bit concerned about his flexibility, one of the major requirements for an offensive tackle, especially a tackle who has to sit in his cylinder while moving backwards in pass protection. Still, he's a man-mountain with the type of size, length and nimble feet that are incredibly rare, even if currently housed in a raw package. As long as Stacy Searels can vet his flexibility and come up with positive answers, Thomas should be high on the recruiting wish list for Texas.

Round 4, Pick 2 -- BFLT

Lake Highlands OT/DT Kent Perkins

When I saw the chance to get  book end offensive tackles, I jumped at the chance. Perkins has the best punch of the 2013 offensive tackles. Perkins bends his knees and explodes into the defender and knocks them on their backs. He shows good foot work, and I really like how smoothly he moves. He shows good speed while pulling, and has a natural feel for the position. He makes the proper block at the right time. He's more advanced as a run blocker, but is excellent at pass protection.

Perkins pad level could be better, but it's common flaw of prep offensive lineman. It's easily correctable.

It's likely a TAMU vs. Texas battle for Perkins' signature. He is a life long Longhorn fan, but the Aggies have given him something to think about by pursuing him as a defensive player. Perkins' recruitment doesn't feel like a Michael Starts redux. I think Perkins love for the Longhorns wins out over positional preference.

Round 4, Pick 3 -- GHG90

DeSoto APB Dontre Wilson

With the new Harsinwhite offense (and the Applewhite offense when Harsin moves on, which is looking like it will be sooner rather than later), Texas will be focusing heavily on the utility back position in the near future. Back in GDGD's tenure, the running back position was usually employed so generically that there was no need to recruit nuanced players that didn't fit into his simplistic offensive scheme.

Even when a diamond in the rough like D.J. Monroe (originally recruited at DB/WR) would fall into his Santa-Clausianly inviting lap, we used the excuse that Monroe couldn't block. That didn't work out so well because people figured D.J. was just trying to fit in with the OL, TE's, and the WR's. So we instead made up that he was too big of an idiot to learn the napkin playbook. Yeah. He seems to be REALLY struggling with Harsin's infinitely larger and more complicated version, which is less napkin and more tome. What is D.J. averaging now, like 14 yards per carry? Oh...wait, no, that's Johnathan Gray. My bad.

If you're wondering when I'm actually going to start talking about Dontre Wilson, thanks for hanging around so long. I'm sure you're just waiting to read GoBR and BFLT's stuff anyway.

BUT I DI-GRESS.

Wilson is a burner with incredible change-of-direction ability who can line up at running back, motion from a wide receiver position for sweeps and reverses, and dominate in the return game. He's also an excellent receiver out of the backfield and a true big play guy. Most don't view him as an every down back, but as I've already stated, that's simply not necessary under Harsinwhite.

I personally don't think he's that small and wouldn't be a big weakness running up the middle unless we're jamming him into 4-4 fronts. He should be fine in the blocking game too. I think we'll use him in a combination Fozzy/Monroe role. He's more explosive than Whittaker and has better pure RB ability (read: vision, hands, jump cuts, etc.) than Monroe. Not as fast though, obviously.

Coming from pipeline school DeSoto, you have to like UT's chances with Wilson at this juncture. He's interested in Oregon and a lot of others as well, the former being somewhat $cary becau$e he fit$ $o well in their offen$e. I can't $ee any other rea$on$ why he'd go to the Duck$, though.

I know Roy is a big fan of Wilson after seeing him in person. He was supposed to upload some videos he took at the game, but those have yet to be seen and I'm starting to believe Greg Davis confiscated them in order to not reveal anything to OU before the RRS once Dontre arrives on the 40 (EDITOR'S NOTE: I was slow, but you can watch that video below). Two years from now. Hey, if you don't show it to ‘em, HOW WILL THEY DEFEND IT?

DeSoto's Dontre Wilson returning punts (via GhostofBigRoy84)

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I get to watch Jake Oliver tonight. I am going to the Lake Highlands Dallas Jesuit game.

You might be a king or a little street sweeper, but sooner or later, you dance with the Grim Reaper.

by maverick76904 on Oct 21, 2011 9:10 AM CDT reply actions  

I will take some pics.

You might be a king or a little street sweeper, but sooner or later, you dance with the Grim Reaper.

by maverick76904 on Oct 21, 2011 11:22 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions  

28 14 dallas jesuit at half....

And I believe Bryan harsin is here.

You might be a king or a little street sweeper, but sooner or later, you dance with the Grim Reaper.

by maverick76904 on Oct 21, 2011 8:55 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions  

Harsin went to Carthage v Henderson game

to watch Greg Brantley (OL from Carthage) and Del Barnes (QB from Henderson)

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SECede?....Whoop(s)!!

by kriess on Oct 21, 2011 10:45 PM CDT up reply actions  

4 OL picks in top 12

Trying to fit need or just picking best available? Also, 8 offense and 4 defense. A reflection of just a better year for a position, or is Texas developing better offensive players (talented top athletes choosing offense over defense)? Seems to me that over the last few years, there are fewer defensive players in the top 20, but have have not checked.

by everything horns on Oct 21, 2011 9:38 AM CDT reply actions  

Probably a combination of need and best available.

We didn’t really separate. Not a lot of elite defensive players in the 2013 class, I think. There’s a good DT group, but all the other defensive positions this year don’t have many standouts.

Follow me on Twitter: @GhostofBigRoy
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by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Oct 21, 2011 10:27 AM CDT up reply actions  

Why would Harsin be moving on sooner than later?

This is very alarming news.

We’re Texas.
We don’t derive our value or self-definition from conference affiliation.
If that strikes people as cocky, so what? It’s also true. None of us will chant our conference’s name when we have an off year and Texas Tech wins their bowl game. Our definition of self comes from us – not our conference, not our rivals, not media perception.

by Snide Aside on Oct 21, 2011 10:39 AM CDT reply actions  

My picks

I approached the draft with the intent to take the best player available. There’s a lot of good OTs in the 2013 class.

Perkins very quietly might be the best offensive lineman in the 2013 class. It feels like I stole him in Round 4.

I like Blake’s pick a lot. Dontre Wilson is probably the most dynamic player in the 2013 class. All the hyperbole you’ve read about Wilson is well warranted.

billfromlaketravis (Austin Pace)

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by billfromlaketravis on Oct 21, 2011 11:03 AM CDT reply actions  

He definitely flashed more in the return game

than he did on offense during the game that I saw against Stony Point, but he made some really nice plays against OKC Douglass early in the season. Agree that he may be the most dynamic player in the class.

Follow me on Twitter: @GhostofBigRoy
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by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Oct 21, 2011 12:11 PM CDT up reply actions  

Who was that blocker in the 2nd return?

That guy was faster than wilson, and I think bigger. Can’t coach speed and size…

I don't understand "t-sip" as an insult. I like drinking tea, and when is being classy a bad thing?

by TexaStunna on Oct 24, 2011 1:50 AM CDT up reply actions  

A'Shawn Robinson and O-Line Depth

With the number of quality offensive linemen in the 2013 class and with Estelle and Hughes joining the team next year (and possibly Peat), is it possible we might see Robinson play DT for the Horns if he commits? With his size and athleticism, he seems ideal for the postition and it’s where he prefers to play.

by Darth Bevo on Oct 21, 2011 12:30 PM CDT reply actions  

Most definitely

Robinson’s last OT highlights were less than inspiring, so DT might be the better spot.

Follow me on Twitter @GoHornsGo90

by GoHornsGo90 on Oct 21, 2011 7:17 PM CDT up reply actions  

Dontre!

Love the Dontre Wilson pick Blake. I’m a big fan of the kid and hoping we land him. I also enjoyed the $ubtlety you dropped in there.

Hook 'em! @michaelpelech10 on Twitter

by The Audit Horn on Oct 21, 2011 8:32 PM CDT via iPhone app reply actions  

recruiting

does anybody know if we are going to be giving out some scholarships this month? i know we are close to giving out a few to players that we are high on. how is toshiro davis doing? i heard mario edwards didn’t go to the visit last week, does that mean he is gonna be a sooner? let me know of any recruiting updates or anything. im very curious to how many players we are going to hold on to and how many players we will make a bid at.

by susuata on Oct 21, 2011 9:51 PM CDT reply actions  

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